In a significant step forward in the investigation into the murder of Indore businessman Raja Raghuvanshi, Meghalaya Police on Tuesday, June 17, recreated the crime scene in the scenic town of Sohra (Cherrapunji) in East Khasi Hills. The reconstruction involved all five accused, including Raja’s wife, Sonam Raghuvanshi, and her alleged lover, Raj Kushwaha.
The accused were brought under heavy security from the Sadar police station around 9:30 a.m. to the hilltop parking area, believed to be where the murder plan was initiated. From there, police escorted Sonam and Raj to the exact location near Weisawdong Falls where Raja was allegedly killed, reenacting the events leading up to and during the murder.
Raja, 29, and Sonam, 25, had been married just days before his death. They tied the knot in Indore on May 11 and arrived in Meghalaya via Guwahati on May 20 for their honeymoon. However, the couple went missing on May 23 after checking out of a homestay in Nongriat village. Raja’s body was discovered on June 2 in a deep gorge near Weisawdong Falls, sparking a state-wide investigation.
Sonam resurfaced nearly two weeks later in Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh – over 1,200 km away – where she surrendered to police. Her arrest led authorities to uncover a larger conspiracy allegedly masterminded by Raj Kushwaha, 20, Sonam’s boyfriend, with whom she had conspired to eliminate her husband. Three contract killers were also hired to carry out the murder.
All five accused – Sonam, Raj, and the three hired killers – are now in the custody of the Meghalaya Police. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed to probe the case from multiple angles. Meghalaya DGP I Nongrang told PTI that investigators are still exploring possible motives behind the crime, calling it unusual that Sonam could have developed such animosity toward her husband so soon after marriage.
“We are exploring all possible angles. There is enough evidence, and the loose ends are being tied up,” Nongrang said. The SIT is also coordinating with the Assam Police and authorities in other states where the accused are believed to have travelled before and after the crime.
A court in Shillong has remanded all five suspects to eight days of police custody as the investigation intensifies.
